Sara May, the lead singer and songwriter of Canadian band Falcon Jane, has officially donned her cowboy hat. Living in rural Ontario, Sara and her partner Andrew have channeled their deep love of traditional country and western music and their affection for their small town home into a beautiful evolution of the Falcon Jane sound. They've retained their sunny temperament and Sara's lyrical depth while refining their production and songwriting—the result is a song like "Dirty Dog", a bitter and brokenhearted tune with a timeless Nashville-country sound.
With a deft lyrical touch, Sara embodies a classic drifter, a heartbroken cowboy-type, just "trying to get by.” This character is presented, flaws and all, with a clarity and empathy that puts her in special company as a songwriter.
"Dirty Dog" is a hard-hitting song about a complicated man, sung with absolute conviction. It reminds of Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Angel Olsen, and Jenny Lewis, which is to say, it echoes the greats, past and present, but with Falcon Jane’s own unique flair.
High praise, sure, but roll the windows down, turn the radio up, and give the track a listen before you worry about whether it's "country" enough. Because it is.